Hybrid corn plant and seed (3563)

ABSTRACT

According to the invention, there is provided a hybrid corn plant, designated as 3563, produced by crossing two Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred corn lines. This invention thus relates to the hybrid seed 3563, the hybrid plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and trivial modifications of hybrid 3563. This hybrid corn plant is characterized by excellent yield potential, good test weight, and fast drydown. It performs best from Indiana/Ohio West.

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.07/649,791, filed Feb. 1, 1991, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of plant breeding, specifically hybridcorn breeding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety/hybridvarious desirable traits of the parental lines. For field crops, thesetraits may include resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heatand drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, andbetter agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops,uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination and standestablishment, growth rate, maturity, and fruit size, is important.

Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of theplant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinating if pollenfrom one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the sameplant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower ona different plant.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between twohomozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that maybe heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of two plants eachheterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce a population ofhybrid plants that differ genetically and will not be uniform.

Corn plants (Zea mays. L.) can be bred by both self-pollination andcross-pollination techniques. Corn has male flowers, located on thetassel, and female flowers, located on the ear, on the same plant.Natural pollination occurs in corn when wind blows pollen from thetassels to the silks that protrude from the tops of the incipient ears.

The development of corn hybrids requires the development of homozygousinbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluation of thecrosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods areused to develop inbred lines from populations. Breeding programs combinedesirable traits from two or more inbred lines or various broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new inbred lines are developed byselfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds arecrossed-with other inbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses areevaluated to determine which have commercial potential.

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each ofwhich may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking inthe other or which complement the other. If the two original parents donot provide all of the desired characteristics, other sources can beincluded in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superiorplants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In thesucceeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way tohomogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection.Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations ofselfing and selection is practiced. F₁ →F₂ ; F₂ →F₃ ; F₃ →F₄ ; F₄ →F₅,etc.

A hybrid corn variety is the cross of two inbred lines, each of whichmay have one or more desirable characteristics lacked by the other orwhich complement the other. The hybrid progeny of the first generationis designated F₁. In the development of hybrids only the F₁ hybridplants are sought. The F₁ hybrid is more vigorous than its inbredparents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, can be manifested in manyways, including increased vegetative growth and increased yield.

The development of a hybrid corn variety involves three steps: (1) theselection of superior plants from various germplasm pools; (2) theselfing of the superior plants for several generations to produce aseries of inbred lines, which although different from each other, eachbreed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbredlines with unrelated inbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny (F₁).During the inbreeding process the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor isrestored when two unrelated inbred lines are crossed to produce thehybrid progeny (F₁). An important consequence of the homozygosity andhomogeniety of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between any twoinbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give the besthybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproducedindefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents ismaintained.

A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed toproduce the F₁ progeny. A double cross hybrid, is produced from fourinbred lines crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F₁ hybridsare crossed again (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁hybrids is lost in the next generation (F₂). Consequently, seed fromhybrid varieties is not used for planting stock.

Hybrid corn seed can be produced by manual detasseling. Alternate stripsof two inbred varieties of corn are planted in a field, and thepollen-bearing tassels are removed from one of the inbreds (female).Providing that there is sufficient isolation from sources of foreigncorn pollen, the ears of the detasseled inbred will be fertilized onlyfrom pollen from the other inbred (male), and the resulting seed istherefore hybrid and will form hybrid plants.

The laborious detasseling process can be avoided by using cytoplasmicmale-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMS inbred are fertilized withpollen from another inbred that is not male-sterile. Pollen from thesecond inbred can contribute genes that make the hybrid plantsmale-fertile. Usually seed from detasseled normal corn and CMS producedseed of the same hybrid is blended to insure that adequate pollen loadsare available for fertilization when the hybrid plants are grown.

Corn is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal ofplant breeding is to develop stable high yielding corn hybrids that areagronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are obvious: to maximizethe amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food forboth animals and humans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a hybrid corn plant,designated as 3563, produced by crossing two Pioneer Hi-BredInternational, Inc. proprietary inbred corn lines. This invention thusrelates to the hybrid seed 3563, the hybrid plant produced from theseed, and variants, mutants, and trivial modifications of hybrid 3563.This hybrid corn plant is characterized by excellent yield potential,good test weight, and fast drydown. It performs best from Indiana/OhioWest.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and examples that follow, a number of terms are usedherein. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

ADVANTAGE=It is the advantage the hybrid to be patented has compared toanother hybrid for yield (bushels per acre), moisture (drier is anadvantage), income, population, stand (plants not stalk lodging is anadvantage), roots (plants not root lodging is an advantage), and testweight, respectively, in strip tests.

BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. This is the percent of plants per plot that werenot barren (lack ears).

B/STK=BRITTLE STALKS RATING. This is a 1-9 rating where a 1, 5, and 9represent serious, average, and little or no potential for brittle stalkbreakage.

BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near thetime of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid would snapor break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Data arepresented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Actual yield of the grain at harvestadjusted to 15.5% moisture. ABS is in absolute terms and % MN is percentof the mean for the experiments in which the hybrid was grown.

D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybrid willreach acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a 1-9rating scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relatively fastwhile a low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly.

D/E=DROPPED EARS RATING. This is a 1-9 rating where a 1, 5, and 9represent serious, average, and little or no ear droppage potential,respectively.

DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. This is a measure of the number of dropped earsper plot and represents the percentage of plants that did not drop earsprior to harvest.

D/T=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1-9 rating for droughttolerance, and is based on data obtained under stress conditions. A highscore indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poordrought tolerance.

E/HT=EAR HEIGHT RATING. This is a 1-9 rating with a 1, 5, and 9representing a very low, average, and very high ear placement,respectively.

EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to thetop developed ear node attachment and is measured in inches.

EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishmentin the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on a perplot basis for the hybrid.

GDU BL=GDU TO BLACKLAYER. This is the number of growing degree unitsrequired for the hybrid to reach blacklayer from the time that it wasplanted. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method, wherethe heat units for a 24-hour period are: ##EQU1##

The highest maximum used is 86° F. and the lowest minimum used is 50° F.For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certain number of GDUs to reachvarious stages of plant development.

GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heatunits required for a hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of theplants shedding pollen and is measured from the time of planting.

GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for ahybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants with silkemergence from time of planting.

GRN APP=G/A=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the generalquality of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factors asthe color of the harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any crackedgrain. High scores indicate good grain quality and low scores indicatepoor grain quality.

H/POP=YIELD AT HIGH DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively high plantdensities on a 1-9 relative rating system with a higher numberindicating the hybrid responds well to high plant densities for yieldrelative to other hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor,average, and very good yield response, respectively, to increased plantdensity.

INCOME/ACRE: Relative income per acre assuming drying costs of two centsper point above 15.5 percent harvest moisture and market price of $2.25per bushel.

L/POP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plantdensities on a 1-9 relative system with a higher number indicating thehybrid responds well to low plant densities for yield relative to otherhybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very goodyield response, respectively, to low plant density.

MST=MOIST=HARVEST MOISTURE. Harvest moisture is the actual percentagemoisture of the grain at harvest.

MST RM=MOISTURE RM. This represents the Minnesota Relative MaturityRating (MN RM) for the hybrid and is based on the harvest moisture ofthe grain relative to a standard set of checks of previously determinedMN RM rating. Linear regression analysis is used to compute this rating.

P/HT=PLANT HEIGHT RATING. This is a 1-9 rating with a 1, 5, and 9representing a very short, average, and very tall hybrid, respectively.

PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant fromthe ground to the tip of the tassel in inches.

POP K/ACRE: Plants per 0.001 acre.

PERCENT WINS: For yield, moisture, income, populations, stand, roots,and test weight, it would be the percentage of comparisons that thehybrid to be patented yielded more, had lower harvest moisturepercentage, had greater income per acre, had better stalks, had betterroots, and had higher test weight, respectively, in strip tests.

R/L=ROOT LODGING RATING. A 1-9 rating where a higher score indicatesless root lodging potential (1 is very poor, 5 is intermediate, and 9 isvery good, respectively, for resistance to root lodging).

ROOT (%): Percentage of plants that did not root lodge (lean greaterthan 30 degrees from vertical) taken on strip test plots.

RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that donot root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at anapproximately 30° angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

S/L=STALK LODGING RATING. This is a 1-9 rating where a higher scoreindicates less stalk lodging potential (1 is very poor, 5 isintermediate, and 9 is very good, respectively, for resistance to stalklodging).

SDG VGR=S/VIG=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of theamount of vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage(approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor and alow score indicates poorer vigor.

STA GRN=STGR=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health nearthe time of black layer formation (physiological maturity) using a 1-9visual rating. A high score indicates better late-season plant healthand a low score indicates poor plant health.

STAND (%): Percentage of plants that did not break (lodge) below the eartaken on strip test plots.

STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did notstalk lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodging orpushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that breakbelow the ear.

T/WT=TEST WEIGHT RATING. This is a 1-9 relative rating with a 1, 5, and9 indicating very low, average, and very high test weight, respectively.

TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT. The measure of the weight of the grain in poundsfor a given volume (bushel) adjusted for percent moisture.

YLD=YIELD FOR MATURITY. This represents a 1-9 rating for a hybrid'syield potential. 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, andvery high yield potential, respectively, relative to other hybrids of asimilar maturity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 is a single cross, yellow endosperm, dent cornhybrid with excellent yield potential. It has good test weight, goodstalks and roots, and fast drydown. 3563 has good stand establishment,good northern leaf blight resistance, and excellent Goss' wiltresistance.

This hybrid has the following characteristics based on the descriptivedata collected primarily at Johnston, Iowa.

    ______________________________________    VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION    HYBRID = PIONEER BRAND 3563    ______________________________________    Type:   Dent      Region Best Adapted:                                     Central                                     Corn Belt    A.  Maturity:        Minnesota Relative Maturity Rating (harvest moisture): 103        GDU's to Physiological Maturity (black layer): 2648        GDU's to 50% Silk: 1415         ##STR1##        *If maximum is greater than 86 degrees fahrenheit, then 86 is        used and if minimum is less than 50, then 50 is used. Heat        units accumulated daily and can not be less than 0.    B.  Plant Characteristics:        Plant height (to tassel tip): 269 cm        Length of top ear internode: 17 cm        Number of ears per stalk: Single        Ear height (to base of top ear): 84 cm        Number of tillers: None        Cytoplasm type: Normal    C.  Leaf:        Color: Dark Green (B14)        Angle from Stalk: 30- 60 degrees        Marginal Waves: Few (WF9)        Number of Leaves (mature plants): 18        Sheath Pubescence: Light (W22)        Longitudinal Creases: Few (OH56A)        Length (Ear node leaf): 86 cm        Width (widest point, ear node leaf): 11 cm    D.  Tassel:        Number lateral branches: 3        Branch Angle from central spike: 30-40 degrees        Pollen Shed: Heavy (KY21)        Peduncle Length (top leaf to basal branches): 25 cm        Anther Color: Pink        Glume Color: Green    E.  Ear (Husked Ear Data Except When Stated Otherwise):        Length: 19 cm        Weight: 205 gm        Mid-point Diameter: 44 mm        Silk Color: Salmon        Husk Extension (Harvest stage): Short (Ears Exposed)        Husk Leaf: Short (<8 cm)        Taper of Ear: Slight        Position of Shank (dry husks): Upright        Kernel Rows: Straight, Distinct Number = 16        Husk Color (fresh): Light Green        Husk Color (dry): Buff        Shank Length: 11 cm        Shank (No. of internodes): 8    F.  Kernel (Dried):        Size (from ear mid-point)    Length:  12 mm    Width:    7 mm    Thick:    4 mm        Shape Grade (% rounds): <20        Pericarp Color: Colorless        Aleurone Color: Homozygous Yellow        Endosperm Color: Yellow        Endosperm Type: Normal Starch        Gm Wt/100 Seeds (unsized): 26 gm    G.  Cob:        Diameter at mid-point: 24 mm        Strength: Strong        Color: Red    H.  Diseases:        Corn Lethal Necrosis (MCMV = Maize Chlorotic Mottle        Virus and MDMV = Maize Dwarf Mosaic        Virus): Intermediate        Common Smut (U. maydis): Highly Resistant        N. Leaf Blight (E. turcicum): Resistant        Gray Leaf Spot (C. zeae): Susceptible        Goss's Wilt (C. nebraskense): Resistant        Head Smut (S. reiliana): Highly Resistant        Fusarium Ear Mold (F. moniliforme): Resistant        Gibberella Ear Rot (G. zeae): Intermediate    I.  Insects:        European Corn Borer-1 Leaf Damage (Pre-flowering):        Intermediate        European Corn Borer-2 (Post-flowering): Intermediate        The above descriptions are based on a scale of 1-9, 1 being        highly susceptible, 9 being highly resistant.        S (Susceptible): Would generally represent a score of 1-3.        I (Intermediate): Would generally represent a score of 4-5.        R (Resistant): Would generally represent a score of 6-7.        H (Highly Resistant): Would generally represent a score of        8-9. Highly resistant does not imply the inbred is immune.    J.  Variety Most Closely Resembling:    Character  Hybrid    Maturity   Pioneer Brand 3578    Usage      Pioneer Brand 3578    ______________________________________

Items B, C, D, E, F, and G are based on a maximum of two reps of dataprimarily from Johnston, Iowa in 1990.

This invention includes the hybrid corn seed of 3563, the hybrid cornplant produced from the hybrid corn seed, and variants, mutants, andmodifications of 3563. This invention also relates to the use of 3563 inproducing three-way and double cross hybrids.

The terms variant, trivial modification, and mutant refer to a hybridseed where a plant produced by that hybrid seed which is phenotypicallysimilar to 3563.

As used herein, the term "plant" includes plant cells, plant protoplast,plant cell or tissue culture from which corn plants can be regenerated,plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intact in plants orparts of plants, such as flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, leaves, husks,stalks and the like.

Tissue culture of corn is described in European Patent Application,publication number 160,390, incorporated herein by reference. Corntissue culture procedures are also described in Green and Rhodes, "PlantRegeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize," Maize for Biological Research,(Plant Molecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va. 1982) at367-372 and in Duncan, et al., "The Production of Callus Capable ofPlant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea MaysGenotypes," 165 Planta 322-332 (1985).

USES OF CORN

Corn is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material inindustry. The food uses of corn, in addition to human consumption ofcorn kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries.The principal products of corn dry milling are grits, meal and flour.The corn wet-milling industry can provide starch, syrups, and dextrosefor food use. Corn oil is recovered from corn germ, which is aby-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Corn is also used extensively as livestock feed primarily to beefcattle, dairy cattle, hogs, and poultry.

Industrial uses of corn are mainly from corn starch from the wet-millingindustry and corn flour from the dry-milling industry. The industrialapplications of corn starch and flour are based on functionalproperties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesive properties, andability to suspend particles. The corn starch and flour have applicationin the paper and textile industries. Other industrial uses includeapplications in adhesives, building materials, foundry binders, laundrystarches, explosives, oil-well muds, and other mining applications.

Plant parts other than the grain of corn are also used in industry.Stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs are used forfuel and to make charcoal.

The seed of 3563, the hybrid corn plant produced from the seed, andvarious parts of the hybrid corn plant can be utilized for human food,livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.

EXAMPLE 1 Research Comparisons for Pioneer Hybrid 3563

Comparisons of the characteristics for Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 weremade against Pioneer Brand Hybrids 3615, 3578, and 3475; and DeKalbBrand Hybrid DK535. These hybrids are grown in the Western Corn Belt andare similar maturity. The results in Table 1A compare Pioneer Brand 3563to Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3615. 3563 has higher yield, grain moisture, andtest weight than 3615. 3563 is taller in stature, has lower earplacement, and flowers (GDU Shed) later than 3615. 3563 has better grainappearance and stay green, better resistance to stalk lodging, and ismore susceptible to root lodging than 3615.

The results in Table 1B, comparing Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 to PioneerBrand Hybrid 3578, show 3563 has higher yield and test weight, but lowergrain moisture than 3578. 3563 has fewer barren stalks and establishes abetter early stand than 3578. 3563 is a taller hybrid, has lower earplacement, and flowers (GDU Shed) later than 3578. 3563 has better grainappearance and stay green, is more susceptible to stalk and rootlodging, and has fewer brittle stalks than 3578.

Table 1C compares Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 to Pioneer Brand Hybrid3475. 3563 and 3475 have similar yield, but 3563 has lower grainmoisture and slightly higher test weight than 3475. 3563 is a tallerhybrid with lower ear placement and flowers (GDU Shed) later than 3475.3563 is more susceptible to root lodging than 3475.

Table 1D, comparing Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 to DeKalb Brand HybridDK535, shows 3563 yields slightly higher, has lower grain moisture, andhigher test weight than DK535. 3563 is taller in stature with higher earplacement and flowers (GDU Shed) later than DK535. 3563 has better grainappearance and stay green than DK535. 3563 is more susceptible to stalklodging, but has better root lodging resistance than DK535.

                                      TABLE 1A    __________________________________________________________________________    VARIETY #1-3563    VARIETY #2-3615    __________________________________________________________________________               BU  BU      BAR PLT EAR SDG EST           VAR ACR ACR MST PLT HT  HT  VGR CNT    YEAR   #   ABS % MN                       ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    88     1   127.4                   114 21.3                           90.5                               91.9                                   36.6                                       6.0 59.2           2   106.3                   97  19.1                           97.0                               85.9                                   37.5                                       6.4 60.7           LOCS               21  21  21  3   10  10  13  19           PROB               .000#                   .001#                       .000#                           .217                               .002#                                   .382                                       .310                                           .184    89     1   150.4                   106 17.5    111.5                                   45.1                                       5.6 63.4           2   133.6                   94  17.5    105.3                                   46.0                                       6.1 63.7           LOCS               45  45  45      17  17  19  24           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .892    .000#                                   .449                                       .256                                           .671    90     1   144.6                   100 19.9    101.9                                   44.2                                       5.1 62.2           2   134.2                   93  18.7    94.7                                   45.3                                       5.7 60.8           LOCS               100 100 100     47  47  52  69           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .000#   .000#                                   .030+                                       .000#                                           .010+    TOTAL  1   144.0                   104 19.4                           90.5                               102.7                                   43.4                                       5.4 61.9    SUM    2   130.5                   94  18.4                           97.0                               96.0                                   44.4                                       5.9 61.4           LOCS               166 166 166 3   74  74  84  112           DIFF               13.5                   10  1.0 6.4 6.8 1.0 0.5 0.5           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .000#                           .217                               .000#                                   .018+                                       .000#                                           .192    __________________________________________________________________________               DRP GDU TST GRN STA STK RT  BRT           VAR EAR SHD WTA APP GRN LDG LDG STK    YEAR   #   ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    88     1   100.0                   1369                       57.5                           6.9 5.5 89.6                                       97.7           2   99.7                   1302                       55.3                           6.2 2.8 80.3                                       100.0           LOCS               15  7   20  16  14  18  2           PROB               .223                   .000#                       .000#                           .053*                               .000#                                   .025+                                       .500    89     1   99.5                   1304                       58.3                           6.5 5.3 93.5                                       97.5                                           99.5           2   99.4                   1257                       57.2                           6.4 2.9 90.1                                       99.2                                           100.0           LOCS               39  13  44  31  16  40  33  2           PROB               .682                   .000#                       .000#                           .543                               .000#                                   .023+                                       .102                                           .500    90     1   99.8                   1377                       56.7                           6.7 5.2 92.3                                       93.9                                           99.3           2   99.7                   1302                       55.3                           6.5 1.8 89.6                                       95.7                                           98.0           LOCS               68  25  99  82  46  99  33  3           PROB               .260                   .000#                       .000#                           .193                               .000#                                   .007#                                       .362                                           .455    TOTAL  1   99.7                   1355                       57.2                           6.7 5.3 92.3                                       95.8                                           99.4    SUM    2   99.6                   1289                       55.8                           6.4 2.2 88.6                                       97.5                                           98.8           LOCS               122 45  163 129 76  157 68  5           DIFF               0.1 66  1.4 0.2 3.0 3.7 1.7 0.6           PROB               .231                   .000#                       .000#                           .037+                               .000#                                   .000#                                       .097*                                           .539    __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG     + = 5% SIG     # = 1% SIG

                                      TABLE 1B    __________________________________________________________________________    VARIETY #1-3563    VARIETY #2-3578    __________________________________________________________________________               BU  BU      BAR PLT EAR SDG EST           VAR ACR ACR MST PLT HT  HT  VGR CNT    YEAR   #   ABS % MN                       ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    88     1   125.6                   110 20.5                           93.0                               85.5                                   35.0                                       5.8 58.6           2   114.7                   101 21.3                           89.1                               78.5                                   36.0                                       6.1 58.2           LOCS               22  22  22  2   9   9   11  16           PROB               .010+                   .039+                       .012+                           .265                               .002#                                   .386                                       .295                                           .576    89     1   148.8                   104 18.0    115.1                                   46.9                                       5.7 61.4           2   141.7                   99  19.2    110.3                                   46.7                                       5.8 60.2           LOCS               63  63  63      24  24  31  39           PROB               .001#                   .001#                       .000#   .000#                                   .796                                       .790                                           .185    90     1   147.7                   102 20.3    101.5                                   42.7                                       5.1 59.3           2   147.8                   101 21.7    97.1                                   43.7                                       5.4 55.0           LOCS               226 226 229     105 105 132 163           PROB               .907                   .873                       .000#   .000#                                   .014+                                       .011+                                           .000#    TOTAL  1   146.3                   103 19.9                           93.0                               102.8                                   43.0                                       5.3 59.6    SUM    2   144.2                   101 21.2                           89.1                               98.2                                   43.7                                       5.5 56.2           LOCS               311 311 314 2   138 138 174 218           DIFF               2.1 2   1.3 4.0 4.6 0.8 0.2 3.4           PROB               .028+                   .015+                       .000#                           .265                               .000#                                   .018+                                       .011+                                           .000#    __________________________________________________________________________               DRP GDU TST GRN STA STK RT  BRT           VAR EAR SHD WTA APP GRN LDG LDG STK    YEAR   #   ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    88     1   100.0                   1395                       57.7                           6.7 5.1 87.1                                       98.5           2   99.6                   1345                       55.5                           6.0 4.5 94.0                                       99.0           LOCS               17  7   21  22  12  20  3           PROB               .029+                   .001#                       .000#                           .166                               .215                                   .032+                                       .794    89     1   99.5                   1310                       58.1                           6.6 5.2 91.2                                       97.6                                           99.5           2   98.3                   1265                       56.7                           5.7 5.0 94.0                                       98.3                                           99.0           LOCS               46  18  62  41  23  58  35  2           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .000#                           .000#                               .592                                   .001#                                       .520                                           .500    90     1   99.7                   1388                       56.6                           6.4 5.1 91.8                                       96.1                                           98.8           2   99.3                   1333                       55.0                           5.9 4.9 93.3                                       96.3                                           96.5           LOCS               176 71  228 162 113 227 80  11           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .000#                           .000#                               .058*                                   .006#                                       .773                                           .046+    TOTAL  1   99.7                   1374                       57.0                           6.5 5.1 91.4                                       96.6                                           98.9    SUM    2   99.1                   1321                       55.4                           5.8 4.9 93.5                                       97.0                                           96.9           LOCS               239 96  311 225 148 305 118 13           DIFF               0.6 53  1.6 0.6 0.3 2.1 0.3 2.0           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .000#                           .000#                               .023+                                   .000#                                       .560                                           .038+    __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG     + = 5% SIG     # = 1% SIG

                                      TABLE 1C    __________________________________________________________________________    VARIETY #1-3563    VARIETY #2-3475    __________________________________________________________________________               BU  BU      BAR PLT EAR SDG EST           VAR ACR ACR MST PLT HT  HT  VGR CNT    YEAR   #   ABS % MN                       ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    88     1   127.2                   110 21.1                           90.5                               90.4                                   36.3                                       5.9 59.2           2   113.5                   100 22.1                           92.2                               77.4                                   35.1                                       6.0 57.6           LOCS               27  27  27  3   12  12  15  19           PROB               .006#                   .041+                       .002#                           .735                               .000#                                   .476                                       .923                                           .070*    89     1   148.4                   103 18.2    115.3                                   47.3                                       5.7 61.9           2   148.0                   103 20.5    104.5                                   46.9                                       5.9 61.7           LOCS               65  65  65      25  25  29  41           PROB               .872                   .907                       .000#   .000#                                   .591                                       .622                                           .807    90     1   147.7                   101 20.0    101.3                                   45.2                                       5.1 60.1           2   150.4                   102 21.4    94.3                                   46.0                                       5.4 58.4           LOCS               206 206 206     96  96  105 142           PROB               .021+                   .050*                       .000#   .000#                                   .036+                                       .025+                                           .000#    TOTAL  1   146.0                   102 19.7                           90.5                               102.9                                   44.8                                       5.3 60.4    SUM    2   146.5                   102 21.2                           92.2                               94.7                                   45.2                                       5.5 59.0           LOCS               298 298 298 3   133 133 149 202           DIFF               0.5 0   1.5 1.6 8.3 0.4 0.2 1.4           PROB               .609                   .939                       .000#                           .735                               .000#                                   .251                                       .044+                                           .000#    __________________________________________________________________________               DRP GDU TST GRN STA STK RT  BRT           VAR EAR SHD WTA APP GRN LDG LDG STK    YEAR   #   ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    88     1   100.0                   138.9                       57.3                           6.7 5.3 88.2                                       98.5           2   99.4                   136.5                       56.6                           6.6 5.0 90.7                                       99.6           LOCS               21  9   26  22  16  24  3           PROB               .032+                   .027+                       .002#                           .882                               .584                                   .267                                       .423    89     1   99.5                   131.1                       57.9                           6.4 5.3 90.4                                       97.6                                           99.5           2   98.8                   128.2                       57.9                           6.7 5.5 90.7                                       98.6                                           99.0           LOCS               47  17  64  43  24  59  34  2           PROB               .008#                   .003#                       .918                           .099*                               .570                                   .780                                       .379                                           .500    90     1   99.8                   136.6                       56.7                           6.6 5.0 91.2                                       95.7                                           98.7           2   99.4                   132.8                       56.3                           6.5 4.7 90.5                                       97.3                                           98.3           LOCS               132 59  205 167 111 204 53  10           PROB               .001#                   .000#                       .000#                           .545                               .064*                                   .205                                       .166                                           .659    TOTAL  1   99.7                   1357                       57.0                           6.5 5.1 90.8                                       96.5                                           98.8    SUM    2   99.3                   1323                       56.7                           6.6 4.9 90.6                                       97.8                                           98.4           LOCS               200 85  295 232 151 287 90  12           DIFF               0.5 34  0.3 0.0 0.2 0.3 1.4 0.4           PROB               .000#                   .000#                       .000#                           .882                               .122                                   .617                                       .089*                                           .571    __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG     + = 5% SIG     # = 1% SIG

                                      TABLE 1D    __________________________________________________________________________    VARIETY #1-3563    VARIETY #2-DK535    __________________________________________________________________________               BU  BU      PLT EAR SDG EST DRP           VAR ACR ACR MST HT  HT  VGR CNT EAR    YEAR   #   ABS % MN                       ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    89     1   141.7                   104 21.2                           123.4                               50.5                                   4.9 57.1                                           100.0           2   134.0                   98  22.0                           113.7                               48.3                                   5.7 57.6                                           99.0           LOCS               11  11  11  6   6   5   9   11           PROB               .338                   .341                       .096*                           .001#                               .258                                   .101                                       .708                                           .034+    90     1   145.1                   100 19.7                           101.6                               43.8                                   5.0 60.5                                           99.8           2   143.7                   99  20.0                           96.4                               43.5                                   5.5 58.6                                           99.7           LOCS               140 140 141 61  61  76  100 105           PROB               .242                   .205                       .049+                           .000#                               .539                                   .001#                                       .001#                                           .143    TOTAL  1   144.9                   100 19.8                           103.5                               44.4                                   5.0 60.3                                           99.8    SUM    2   143.0                   99  20.2                           98.0                               43.9                                   5.5 58.6                                           99.6           LOCS               151 151 152 67  67  81  109 116           DIFF               1.9 1   0.3 5.6 0.5 0.5 1.7 0.2           PROB               .134                   .112                       .020+                           .000#                               .324                                   .000#                                       .001#                                           .025+    __________________________________________________________________________                   GDU GDU TST GRN STA STK RT               VAR SHD SLK WTA APP GRN LDG LDG    YEAR       #   ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS    __________________________________________________________________________    89         1   1329                       56.6                           6.3 6.4 87.2                                       99.0               2   1295                       54.7                           5.5 4.4 90.1                                       98.1               LOCS                   4   11  11  6   10  5               PROB                   .215                       .001#                           .007#                               .015+                                   .488                                       .594    90         1   1392                       56.8                           6.5 5.0 92.5                                       95.1                                           99.4               2   1346                       54.6                           5.6 3.4 93.9                                       90.7                                           98.5               LOCS                   36  141 99  61  140 50  7               PROB                   .000#                       .000#                           .000#                               .000#                                   .037+                                       .029+                                           .359    TOTAL      1   1392                       56.8                           6.5 5.1 92.1                                       95.5                                           99.4    SUM        2   1341                       54.6                           5.6 3.5 93.6                                       91.4                                           98.5               LOCS                   40  152 110 67  150 55  7               DIFF                   52  2.2 0.9 1.6 1.5 4.1 1.0               PROB                   .000#                       .000#                           .000#                               .000#                                   .027+                                       .026+                                           .359    __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG     + = 5% SIG     # = 1% SIG

EXAMPLE 2 Strip Test Data for Hybrid 3563

Comparison data was collected from strip tests that were grown byfarmers. Each hybrid was grown in strips of 4, 6, 8, 12, etc. rows infields depending on the size of the planter used. The data was collectedfrom strip tests that had the hybrids in the same area and weighed. Themoisture percentage was determined and bushels per acre was adjusted to15.5 percent moisture. The number of comparisons represent the number oflocations or replications for the two hybrids that were grown in thesame field in close proximity and compared.

Comparison strip testing was done between Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 andPioneer Brand Hybrids 3615, 3578, and 3475; and DeKalb Brand HybridDK535. The comparisons came from all the hybrid's adapted growing areain the United States.

These results are presented in Table 2. The results show Pioneer BrandHybrid 3563 has a yield advantage over all compared hybrids exceptPioneer Hybrid 3578 where it had a 0.4 (not statistically significant)bushels per acre disadvantage. Pioneer 3615 has a slight moistureadvantage over 3563. 3563 showed a greater income advantage to thefarmer based on the adjusted gross income over all hybrids compared. Theyield and income advantage 3563 shows, plus its advantage for othercharacteristics over these hybrids will make it an important additionfor most of the areas where these hybrids are grown.

                                      TABLE 2    __________________________________________________________________________    PIONEER HYBRID 3563 VS PIONEER HYBRIDS 3615, 3578, AND 3475;    AND DEKALB BRAND HYBRID DK535 FROM 1990 STRIP TESTS                              Income/                                   Pop  Stand                                            Roots                                                Test    Brand        Product                      Yield                          Moist                              Acre K/Acre                                        (%) (%) Wt    __________________________________________________________________________    PIONEER      3563 151.1                          19.3                              362.75                                   24.6 86  98  56.3    PIONEER      3615 142.8                          18.5                              345.17                                   24.3 79  100 55.0    Advantage         8.3 -0.8                              17.58                                   0.3  7   -2  1.3    Number of Comparisons                      211 211 211  118  99  69  174    Percent Wins      82  20  78   49   69  2   77    Probability of Difference                      99  99  99   80   99  77  99    PIONEER      3563 155.0                          20.0                              369.85                                   25.1 86  98  56.3    PIONEER      3578 155.4                          21.8                              363.58                                   24.6 90  98  54.4    Advantage         -0.4                          1.8 6.27 0.5  -4  0   1.9    Number of Comparisons                      290 290 290  161  139 103 229    Percent Wins      48  88  60   52   36  16  85    Probability of Difference                      47  99  99   99   99  9   99    PIONEER      3563 153.3                          19.9                              365.39                                   25.1 85  97  56.3    PIONEER      3475 152.0                          22.0                              354.23                                   23.9 84  98  55.5    Advantage         1.3 2.1 11.16                                   1.2  1   -1  0.8    Number of Comparisons                      269 269 269  152  134 88  195    Percent Wins      55  92  68   63   55  7   64    Probability of Difference                      97  99  99   99   90  91  99    PIONEER      3563 156.9                          20.0                              373.77                                   27.4 92  0   56.8    DEKALB       DK535                      155.2                          21.7                              363.80                                   26.0 94  0   54.6    Advantage         1.7 1.7 9.97 1.4  -2  0   2.2    Number of Comparisons                      13  13  13   11   8   0   9    Percent Wins      61  76  61   54   37  0   88    Probability of Difference                      21  99  48   79   60  0   99    PIONEER      3563 153.4                          19.8                              366.47                                   25.0 86  97  56.3    WEIGHTED AVG      150.8                          21.0                              355.41                                   24.3 85  98  54.9    Advantage         2.6 1.2 11.06                                   0.7  1   -1  1.4    Number of Comparisons                      783 783 783  442  380 260 607    Percent Wins      60  71  68   55   51  10  76    Probability of Difference                      99  99  99   99   85  94  99    __________________________________________________________________________     NOTE: The probability values are useful in analyzing if there is a "real"     difference in the genetic potential of the products involved. High values     are desirable, with 95% considered significant for real differences.

EXAMPLE 3 Comparison of Key Characteristics for Hybrid 3563

Characteristics of Pioneer Brand Hybrid 3563 are compared to PioneerBrand Hybrids 3615 and 3578; and DeKalb Brand Hybrid DK535 in Table 3.The ratings given for most of the traits are on a 1-9 basis. In thesecases 9 would be outstanding, while a 1 would be poor for the givencharacteristics. These values are based on performance of a given hybridrelative to other Pioneer commercial, precommercial, and competitivehybrids that are grown in research and strip test trials. The traitscharacterized in Table 3 were defined previously and the ratingsutilized not only research data but experience that trained cornresearchers had in the field as well as sales experience with thehybrids in strip test and in the field. These scores reflect thehybrid's relative performance to other hybrids for the characteristicslisted. The table shows 3563 yielded well for its maturity, and yieldedas well or better than the hybrids compared in both high and low plantpopulation densities. 3563 has average stalk and root lodging resistanceand comparable stay green to the hybrids compared. Relative to thehybrids compared, 3563 has higher test weight and better grainappearance. 3563 is a tall statured hybrid with low ear placement.

                                      TABLE 3    __________________________________________________________________________    HYBRID PATENT COMPARISONS-CHARACTERISTICS    Pioneer Hybrid 3563 vs Pioneer Hybrids 3615 and 3578; and DeKalb Hybrid    DK535    __________________________________________________________________________    HYBRID          SILK.sub.-- CRM                 GDU.sub.-- SILK                        BL.sub.-- CRM                              GDU.sub.-- BL                                    CRM YLD                                           H/POP                                                L/POP                                                    D/D                                                       S/L    __________________________________________________________________________    3563  107    1415   103   2648  103 8  7    8   6  6    3615  104    1383    97   2564  102 6  6    6   4  4    3578  103    1363   102   2640  104 8  8    7   4  7    DK535 104                       104 7  7    6   5  5    __________________________________________________________________________                HYBRID                      R/L                         STGR                             D/T                                T/WT                                    G/A                                       S/VIG                                           P/HT                                               E/HT                                                   D/E                                                      B/STK    __________________________________________________________________________                3563  6  6   5  6   6  5   6   4   6  5                3615  7  3   8  4   4  7   5   6   7  5                3578  6  6   5  4   5  7   5   5   5  5                DK535 4  2   4  4   4  6   4   3   5  4    __________________________________________________________________________

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

DEPOSITS

Applicants have made a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of Hybrid CornLine 3563 with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville,Md. 20852 USA, ATCC Deposit No. 97344. The seeds deposited with the ATCCan Nov. 27, 1995 were taken from the same deposit maintained by PioneerHi-Bred international, Inc., 700 Capital Square, 400 Locust Street, DesMoines, Iowa 50309-2340 since prior to the filing date of thisapplication. This deposit of the Hybrid Corn Line 3563 will bemaintained in the ATCC depository, which is a public depository, for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for theenforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will bereplaced if it becomes nonviable during that period. Additionally,Applicant has satisfied all the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§1.801-1.809,including providing an indication of the viability of the sample.Applicant imposes no restrictions on the availability of the depositedmaterial from the ATCC; however, Applicant has no authority to waive anyrestrictions imposed by law on the transfer of biological material orits transportation in commerce. Applicant does not waive anyinfringement of its rights granted under this patent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hybrid corn plant designated as 3563 and itsparts, produced from seed having ATCC accession no.
 97344. 2. Tissueculture according to claim 1, the tissue culture selected from the groupconsisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, silk,flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, stalks, and cells thereof, andprotoplasts.
 3. A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of the cornplant of claim 1, wherein the tissue culture regenerates plants havingall the physiological and morphological characteristics of
 3563. 4. Acorn plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 3 having all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of 3563.